Hays Medical Center (HMC) is using advances in technology to make patient visits more secure, safe and meaningful.  The hospital is using what’s called a Zero Client to remotely access patient data.   Scott Rohleder, Director of Information Technology, told Hays Post that HMC maintains electronic patient records and while it’s nothing new to store patient information electronically, the hospital is taking a unique approach.

All patient information is stored at HMC in a central database.  In the past, data would be saved in one location, and copied to each device that accesses patient records.  This meant that if a person visited three physicians or specialists in one day, a copy of that person’s data could be stored on three different devices.

With the Zero Clients, clinic staff can access the same information remotely, as before, not by copying it.  No data is physically stored on the devices that access patient information.  Also, because it is stored in a central location rather than copied to multiple devices, patient information can be specialized as it’s accessed by each clinic.  Rohleder said this is a huge benefit for physicians.

“[Physician] interaction with the patient can be more meaningful because they’ll have a lot more information at their fingerprints that’s more appropriate because we’re going to tailor it to a specialty.  Like for Cardiology, they’re specifically going to be addressing certain things, and they’re going to have that patient information tailored to them as they pull it up to review.”

Rohleder added that certain patient information that would be required in an emergency situation such as medication lists, allergies, lab results, etc. is also shared with the Kansas Health Information Network (KHIN).  The KHIN allows for critical care data to be readily accessible if a person is away from their primary care facility and needs emergency medical attention.

Gayla Wichman, HMC Director of Marketing, added that though submission of certain data to the KHIN is designed to be helpful in an emergency situation, patients do have the option of limited what is available.

“People have the ability to opt out if they don’t want their personal records shared.  It isn’t like it has to be shared; that is an option.”

Rohleder said that the next step is to gather feedback from clinics (including clinics outside of the hospital) to improve how this technology is being utilized.  He said the ultimate goal is providing physicians with the information they need, when they need it, in order to better serve patients.